Window cleaning apparatus



DeC. 20, Ff; SHElNMAN v wINDow CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1931 ATToR x Patented Dec. 20, 1932 FREDERICKSHEINMAN, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

WINDOW CLEANING APPARATUS Application med July 24,

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning windows, and is especially adaptable or use in cleaning the outer surfacesv of the window panes; land the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class speciied, involving a light weight, yokeshaped frame, one arm of which constitutes a handle member and the other arm including telescoping parts having means on the outer o or upper part for detachably supporting a cleaning element in connection therewith; a further object being to provide a flexible shaft for placing an electric motor in operativev connection with the cleaningl element 5 for rotating the same, saidk flexible shaft passing upwardly through said telescoping members, and means for coupling said shaft with a gearing disposed in a cas- Y ing supported on the outer or upper telescop- 0 ing'member; a further objectvbeing to provide means adjacent the handle member for retaining the telescoping members in different positions of adjustment; a further object being to provide means for retaining the telescoping members in fully extended position;

a still further object being to provide an electric switch on the handle member of said frame for controlling the circuit to said electric motor to control the operation of said cleaning element; and with these and other Y bjects in view, the invention consists in an apparatus of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, eficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a window frame, illustrating the method of using my improved cleaning apparatus; and,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the Vframe of the device which I employ, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

For the purpose of illustratingthe use'o my invention, I have indicatedat 5 in Fig. 1 of the drawing the frame of a window; 6 the- 1931. Serial N0. 552,870.

window opening; 7 the upper sash; and 8 the lower sash. Each sash has the usual window panels 7 a and 8a. My improved cleaning apparatus comprises in the construction shown a yoke-shaped frame 9, preferably composed of light weight material of any kind or class, said frame consisting of a tubular crosshead 10 from the ends of which extend tubular arms 11 and 12. The arm 11 is'shorter than i the arm 12 and forms a handle member for 60' the device having a knob 13 at' its upper end. The arm 12 is preferably rectangular in cross sectional form in 'orderto key supplemental telescoping'arms 14 and '15 thereto and to each other to prevent rotation. The 6 supplemental arms 14 and 15 are in the form of rectangular tubes, the tube- 14 being smaller than the tube 12 and the tube 15 smaller than the tube 14. The lower end of the tube .P 14 is aperturedin one side wall asfseen at 16 to receive a spring pawl or catch 17 for limiting the outward movement of the tube 14 with respect to the tube 12 and also to retain'said parts in fully extended position. The lower end of the tube 15 is provided withV an aperture 18, in connection with Which a pawl or spring catch19 operates for a similar purpose. Y

Secured to the upper or free end of the tube 15 is a casing 20,'the attachment being 80 made by a bracket 20a.V Supported in the Casing 2O are two beveled gears 21 and 22, the gear 21 having a shaft 23 adapted to be coupled with a flexible shaft 24 by the' usual u tongue and groove connection asv indicated S0 at 25. The iiexible shaft 24 passes through a flexible tube 24a, and said shaft extends to and is coupled with the shaft 26 of an electric motor 27 by the usual coupling 28'. The flexible tubing 24a with the Shaft 24 90 thereinis movable with the tube 15. In other words, asl the tube 15 moves upwardly and downwardly, the shaft 24 including the tubing 24a moves through the tubes 12 and 14 y and outwardly through an opening 29 formed 9a in the corner-portion of the frame joining thecrosshead 10 with the arm or tubing 12,. Y `Arranged in the crosshead 10 is a spring actuated, clamp 30 adapted to engage the Yflexible tubing 24a to retain said tubing'loo ile' against movement with respect to the tube or arm 12, thus supporting and maintaining the tubes 12, 14 and 15 in dierent positions of adjustment. A finger piece or trigger 31 projects upwardly through the crosshead 10` is mounted. The shaft 33projects outward- Y ly through opposite sides of the casing and the outer ends thereof are threaded as V"seen at 33a and 336 to receiveanut or chuck having an extending shaft portion 35 includ?, ing a disk or head 36 upon whichacleaning element`37 is adapted to besecured by an annular clamp b and38 similar inform to cioiiltional hose clamps.

' lie cleaningl element 37 may bein the form of'a cloth, chamois,` brush or other article; depending uponthe particular use ofthe iiivie'ntion'.A "While a single cleaning element isjfshown 'supported on one end of the shaft; it'wilhbe understood that the other end33arl of; sf'iidshaftI may have another, element attaChedthereto.`

To bringthe other cleaning element'into the PQSition of the element 'shown in Figs. 1 and` y2,I I provide the Coupling bracket 20a with ascrefw'orpin 38'which may be placed in eitherA one of two apertures 39 and 40 disposedfzonopposite sidesofy the casing, the pin 3.8; .being in the aperture 39 in the construction shown, and when placed Yin the aperture 4Q, lthe'casing will have been turned into posifton' to arrange the endI 33a of the shaft inthe position assumed by the fend 33?) as shown'in the drawing,

" The casing 22 includes a bearing-v and coupling block 41 secured thereto by a'set screw 42"a'nd this bearing block projectsl below tl'casing and isangularin form to seat in the uppereend of the` tube 15, which acts as akey for keying thevtube andy casing in alineni'ent. IIt will therefore be understood, that in "reversingfthe position of the casing, this bearing will befwithdrawn from the 'tube 15 as will' be apparent.v It will be understood at this'ftilne, thatothermeans may beI provided WithinI the scopep'of my invention for accomplishing the interchanging of theposition of thefca'singfQO and especially the shaft 33 therein.' Y'

f "Supported in connection with the arm or handlepmemberll adjacentthe Vknohl3 is ailigelectricfswitch 43, and thevcircuit wires ironia source of supply as indicated at 44 passthrough the corner or elbow 45 and'up# wardly through ,thetubular handle member tOs'aid switch." Other wires extending from the; tubular handle member. are` directed` to tlepele'ctric `motory27 as jclearly illustrated im Fig,l of they drawing.

tion resides in the fact that the frame consisting of the crosshead 10 and arms 11 and 12, including the supplemental arms 14 and 15 and the casing 20 and its parts are all composed of comparatively light material, and are independent of the heavy electric motor which.; is supported uponthefloor. 0r.other surface,L By reason ofwthisfact, thegframe may be conveniently manipulated upwardly and downwardly and transversely of the windowbpening to.move any desired cleaning element such as the element 37 over the outersurfaces of the transparent panels or Window panes 7 g land 8a of the sashes 7 and 8.

` In the operation of the device, it will be lade-Steed thetftram time@ time. theitele- Smilies tubes 12711411.5,W1'11 be estenda@ and. Centra-@ted in 'Orden 1 fb1ai11s the. @leaning @lenient-n Position, wreathbeth l the upper; and lower. portiers 0f both 11p-pier antlewer sashes, or .the window; .panelsQof suchlsashes, bearing in mind Vthat Sa'cenbrQQm-mit-be provided to permixtthe clearancegoft across;-l he'g 10. of 'theifemabeaa'anestesia sas es.

Withan apparatus made accordingtpmy Y inventiom the Aouter surta4 esoffwindowsmay be; cleaned inr an absolutely'safepmanner with-, Out endangerhsih-lfe Qftlerersen. prfemminel theoperatoaaaild-by Virtue, 0f the manner` of* actuating the cleaning elements herein disclosed at` a relativelyfhigh speed and inV the use ,of dierenttypesgof;cleaning elementsr Windowsfinay4 be cleanedand :pols

devised inhaling-'leases,marsa-ehe drives -mounted .inconnection with. and sup'- pads. basuhifypes lightness an'dfsil pl'icityofl device, aswell i as t"1;li1'e',\fa ct rthat they sauieportable and vcan be convenientlymovedffrom 'placeto'fplace and y adjustsdY intoits several E positionsnof adjustment.

'It`will'b'e understood that whilelhave shown certain.` detailsfoff cnzstrulotion..l for carrying, myjinventllon intoV effect,L that vI am not necessarilyV limited to, thJeSQ details and various changesin and. mgd'lfcations of the I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an apparatus of the class described, a frame consisting of tubular frame members, one constituting a crosshead, an arm extending angularly up from one end of the crosshead, said arm being composed of tubular telescoping parts, the upper part carrying a mechanism driven by a iiexible shaft, said flexible shaft and a housing therefor extending through and projectin from the telescoping parts and from said rame, and a. clamp fixed to the crosshead to clamp the housing of said shaft to support the same and said telescoping parts in different positions of adjustment.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 21st day of July 1931.

FREDERICK SI-IEINMAN. 

